Our longest flight so far
Day 10 27th September
Our longest flight so far – 5 ½ flying hours altogether. Livingstone (Zambia) to Maun (Botswana) to
refuel and then 3 ½ hours to Windhoek in Namibia. Spectacular scenery along the way – we flew
over Vic Falls first, scaring ourselves when we realised where we had actually
been swimming yesterday!
Then it was over MMBA (miles & miles of bugger all)
until we started getting close to Maun, and all of a sudden we were over the
famous Okavango Delta.
We stopped in Maun to refuel and file flight plans, which
took over an hour (!) – if any of you watched the TV series Bush Pilots, this
is where it was filmed. Didn’t look
anything like the airport in the series, to be honest! Those who know me will laugh at this - as I walked the km from where you refuel to the Briefing Office at the other end of the airport in 38 degree heat (!!) a pair of Lilac Breasted Rollers having a fight fell right at my feet, with 3 more on the fence egging them on - and I didn't have a camera on me!! Aaargh!
Then it was off on our longest journey yet into
Namibia. We had expected to be flying
over totally barren land and were surprised to find demarcated plots and roads
along the way. Gradually the land rose
higher until we reached some beautiful mountains coming into Windhoek, flying
down the valley in between them to reach Eros airport. It was
hot and bumpy and we were SO pleased to be on the ground, and even better
when we reached our hotel and had a cold beer in hand!
The airport was almost deserted - definitely a case of DIY porterage!!